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Thy Kingdom Come

In this line from the well-known hymn, Charles Wesley captures Israel’s yearning for its long awaited Deliverer and King. Although the Kingdom Jesus established was not exactly what Israel envisioned, His foretold coming was the most earth-shattering event in human history. God showed up. And He delivered.

As you’ll read in the following pages, Jesus shows up whenever and wherever He hears the cries of longing hearts. He shows up as a shimmering messenger in a vivid dream, bearing a mysterious gift for a Muslim man who is eager—yet fearful—to receive it. He shows up as an Alliance layperson in inner city Detroit, unpacking the wonder of Jesus to a man whose traditional religious beliefs had shielded him from the truth of God’s love, mercy and grace.

Jesus shows up as an Arab Alliance pastor, moved with compassion to provide for the overwhelming physical and spiritual needs of Syrian refugees fleeing the violence in their homeland. Jesus shows up as a small team of workers and laypeople illuminating the darkened cells of suffering inmates in a Cambodian prison. He shows up as an army of Alliance people mobilized to help those devastated by a raging superstorm that overtook the U.S. East Coast. And He shows up everywhere His children pray the simple yet profound prayer their Redeemer taught them.

I am sometimes asked why the December issue of this magazine isn’t more “Christmas-y.” If the true message of Advent is God showing up, then Christmas happens when we, His people, allow His visitations to occur through us. As Bolto, a bedridden amputee in Mongolia, tells a friend whose phone call interrupted a traveler’s prayer: “Hey, hang up immediately. Jesus is visiting me and praying for me now!”

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art;Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.